Democrat Huffman, Republican Roberts finish first and second in 2nd District congressional primary

With all precincts counted in the 2nd District congressional race, Assemblyman Jared Huffman of San Rafael and Republican Dan Roberts of Tiburon emerged from the pack to compete in November's general election, based on a final, unofficial vote tally early Wednesday morning.

Huffman, 48, who gathered 37.3 percent of the vote in the 12-candidate field, attributed his success to "hard work."

"My staff and I have worked very hard for this district for the last six years," Huffman said. "I think there is a record and a relationship there. If you're doing a good job for the community you serve, that is a terrific advantage."

Tiburon investment adviser Dan Roberts, 69, one of only two Republicans in the race, finished second with 15.3 percent of the vote, running stronger than expected by many pundits.

"I think he flew under the radar," said David McCuan, a Sonoma State University associate professor of political science.

Not far behind Roberts was West Marin progressive activist and author Norman Solomon with 14.2 percent; San Rafael businesswoman Stacey Lawson had 10.1 percent; and Marin County Supervisor Susan Adams had 8.4 percent.

Due to California's new open primary system, which became effective this election, the top two vote-getters in Tuesday's primary election will go on to compete in November, regardless of party affiliation. Because registered Democratic voters in the district outnumber Republican voters by more than two to one, pundits had expected two Democrats to compete in the November election.

Roberts, a wounded veteran of the Vietnam war, collected only about $20,000 in contributions but invested $160,000 of his own money in his campaign.

"I said from the beginning of this campaign that if I finished strong enough I thought there was a great chance of running off against Dan Roberts on the Republican side," Huffman said. "If I could gather enough of the Democratic and decline-to-state voters, there would not be enough left for a large field of Democrats to share."

The other Republican in the race, Michael Halliwell of Cotati, a retired sociology professor, was encouraged by some fellow party members to withdraw from the race so Republican voters could coalesce around Roberts.

Halliwell refused to quit, however, insisting that no Republican could win in November running against a Democrat; he said the only chance was for Roberts and he to finish first and second in the primary. Halliwell had 6 percent of the vote.

McCuan said Roberts' success may have been aided by Halliwell's weakness as an alternative for Republicans.

"He (Halliwell) never ran a viable campaign," Roberts said. "Bear in mind this is his sixth losing campaign."

But McCuan agreed with Halliwell's assessment of Roberts' chances against Huffman in November.

"Republicans were voting for a sacrificial lamb," McCuan said. "If you're Jared Huffman, there isn't a better general election opponent for you than Dan Roberts. Jared can start measuring the drapes."

Roberts, however, said, "I wouldn't have put $160,000 of my own money into this if I didn't think that my ideas of Republican conservatism couldn't carry the day."

Huffman said, "Dan is a very honorable guy, a serious guy and a worthy opponent."